Located in Athens, Ga., UGA is described as public, research university where students close down bars at night but are in class the next day, though wearing sunglasses is common. Uniga notes, "With a slew of restaurants and bars hunkered around the university's campus it's hard not to be swept up in partying rituals that can occupy every night of the week."

The main campus of the University of Mississippi is located in Oxford. Ole Miss's partying lifestyle is attributed to a prominent Greek life. Uniga states that "Although there's only about thirty Greek organizations on campus, a third of Ole Miss's 14,000+ students have joined one."

UMD is a large, research-oriented public university located in College Park, Md. "Frats and sororities run the school on weekends, and Terp fans are known for rioting both after major wins and major losses," Uniga states. Terrapins are the university's mascot.

UCSB also stands for "U Can Study Buzzed" at this research university with an ocean view. Unigo notes, "The administration has been fighting back recently, trying to rid the school of its party reputation, but how is it possible to not cut loose when your dorm is right across from the beach and features a sublime view of the Pacific Ocean?"

Located in Tallahasee, this top-tier doctoral research university is no stranger to university party lists. In Florida, the school is known as "party central" where, according to Unigo, "Alcohol flows freely, students are happy, the great weather gives everyone a reason to strip down, and the guys couldn't be more pleased."

This flagship campus of the Indiana University system is located in the charming college town of Bloomington. While the campus is "dry," Unigo reports, "There is a party pretty much every night, whether in the frats or a house on Grant."

Coming in at number four is this writer's alma mater, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. It was, in fact, a report by the station KNWA that brought my attention to this Top 10 list. KNWA asks, "Par-tay at the U of A?" Apparently so.

Ranked #1 Party School

Photobucket image by bwinn18

Unigo states, "the University of Arkansas offers students the quintessential college experience: football, frats, and a thriving party scene in a quaint Southern college town where life revolves around the university."

This public research university is located in Athens, Ohio where, it seems, it has a big-time party-school reputation. So much so that, according to Unigo, university administrators "spend a lot of time and effort...fighting this reputation."

Unigo notes that ASU, located in Tempe, Az., often lands on "Playboy’s 'top party schools' rankings." And it has reached the No. 2 spot on Unigo's list. The biggest public university in America, by enrollment, has 70,000 students enjoying the sun and fun. Yet, according to Unigo, "Even though 'Sun Devils', as Tempe students are collectively known, have a reputation for partying, they also get their work done."

The "Gator Nation" tops the list. Located in Gainesville, Fla., 20 percent of the 35,000 undergraduate students are pledged to a fraternity or sorority. Unigo states, "The frats usually throw their parties during the week with students preferring Downtown and Midtown bars on the weekend, but be forewarned, the weekend starts on Thursday at the University of Florida."